needless

adjective

ˈnēd-ləs How to pronounce needless (audio)
Definition of needlessnext
as in unnecessary
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end needless expenditures that pushed the construction project way over budget

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of needless Lazy prompts or needless iterations can multiply expenses fivefold to tenfold. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Acting on a shaky result carries real downsides too, from needless restrictive diets to unnecessary supplements. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026 And needless to say, Springfield is a charming place to live. — Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026 The first is that Messi could feasibly have been sent off in the first half for a needless lunge, which saw his studs scrape the back of Algeria captain Aissa Mandi’s right leg. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for needless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needless
unnecessary
Adjective
  • After the lower court earlier this year ordered a halt to aboveground construction, the president argued that permission from Congress to build the ballroom was unnecessary because public money was not being used to pay for it.
    — Michael Kunzelman, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Dawicki hopes the test will reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics, and slow the current march toward antibiotic resistance that has already rendered several antibiotics ineffective.
    — Alice Park, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unnecessary

Phrases Containing needless

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needles
needless
needless to say
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Cite this Entry

“Needless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needless. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on needless

Nglish: Translation of needless for Spanish Speakers

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